diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d365952..13be958 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ REVISION = 7
 LIB = libcli.so
 LIB_STATIC = libcli.a
 
-CC = gcc
+CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 AR = ar
 ARFLAGS = rcs
 DEBUG = -g
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3dde870..9c63e84 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,9 +8,20 @@ To compile:
 
 ```sh
 $ make
-$ make install
 ```
 
+To cross-compile specify a triplet in variable `CROSS_COMPILE`:
+
+```sh
+$ CROSS_COMPILE=machine-vendor-operatingsystem- make
+````
+
+To install:
+
+```sh
+$ make install
+````
+
 Note - as of version 1.10.5 you have a compile time decision on using select()
 or poll() in cli_loop().  The default is to use the legacy 'select()' call.
 If built with 'CFLAGS=-DLIBCLI_USE_POLL make' then the poll() system call will